AppFolio Property Manager Review: Pros and Cons
If you’re a business with at least 50 units needing integrated property management and accounting, then AppFolio is a good pick. We liked its AI tools, workflow management, and top-shelf integrations, which amp up the automation and help manage properties.
However, if your team wants to stay on QuickBooks, AppFolio doesn’t have native integration. Additionally, there’s a 50-unit minimum, so it’s not the best fit for smaller property management companies.
- Modern and intuitive user interface
- Unified experience for PMs, residents, owners, and investors
- 1:1 desktop to mobile experience
- Integrations marketplace with strong documentation
- Great AI tools, inlcuding built-in agentic AI workflows
- 50 unit minimum
- Open API not in all plans
- No out-of-the-box QuickBooks integration
- Pricing requires a custom quote
- Developer AppFolio, Inc.
- Client OS Web
- Deployment Cloud Hosted
What is Appfolio?
AppFolio Property Manager is a cloud-based software built for managing residential properties, commercial properties, and community associations.
Businesses can manage anywhere from 50 properties to thousands of properties.
The platform centralizes and connects property, resident, and financial data while automating complex processes. Because AI is built in, it eliminates the friction of integrating or adopting add-on tools. The system helps companies work smarter, boost profits, and connect more meaningfully with residents, owners, and investors.
Our Ratings
| Usability - 9.2 | Modern interface; great user experience with many intuitive features; accounting features somewhat difficult to navigate; may need the help of an experienced accountant to use accounting features. |
| Support - 8.8 | Help center has lots of helpful resources; phone support is by appointment only. |
| Scalability - 10 | Has all the features I would expect for this type of software; mobile app has same user experience as desktop; this product is adequate to accomplish all property management tasks. |
| Security - 8.8 | Multi-factor authentication; only export data with Plus plans; detailed permission controls for users. |
| Value - 9 | Value is overall good but some features cost extra; most vital features are not hidden behind an expensive plan. |
| Performance - 10 | Software is fast and responsive; can accomplish regular, repetitive tasks quickly. |
| Key Features - 10 | Creating new properties, units, and tenants is easy; keeping track of rent payments is easy; I can view and store descriptive information on properties and tenants. |
Realm AI Suite
AppFolio includes its Realm suite, which is a comprehensive set of native AI solutions that are built into our centralized platform and work directly with your data. These tools enable more complex automation, more control, deeper insights, and faster action, putting task-based property management in the past so you can finally perform. The tools include:
- Realm-X Assistant instantly pulls performance insights and reports, executes bulk actions and communication, and does quick tasks for you. All you have to do is ask.
- Realm-X Messages is a central inbox that helps teams quickly act on every incoming message and provide even better service for residents, owners, and investors.
- Build your processes into Realm-X Flows and see the immediate performance impact when things are executed consistently, automatically, and 24/7.
- Built into the AppFolio platform, Realm-X Performers use agentic AI to independently observe, interpret, and act on signals from your data to keep operations flowing—even after hours.
What Features Are Missing?
- Native QuickBooks Integration: AppFolio doesn’t include a native integration with QuickBooks, so you’ll have to use a third-party integrator to get data sync. This can be tedious if you don’t want to switch off of QBO to AppFolio’s native accounting.
Integrations
The AppFolio Stack App partners include apps from across departments, from accounting to maintenance. Notable options include:
- Amazon Key
- Avid Exchange
- Home Depot Pro
- Lowes
- Zillow
Pricing Plans
AppFolio requires a custom quote for specific pricing. Its packages include:
| Core | Plus | Max |
|---|---|---|
| An out-of-the-box solution giving you one powerful platform to run any property management business. | A configurable solution for growing businesses with complex portfolios looking to standardize processes. | An enterprise solution for large operators that are focused on customization, data insights, and driving revenue. |
| - Property accounting & reports - Marketing & leasing - Work order management - Inspections & unit turns - Mobility & convenience - Integrated communication - AppFolio Stack™ Core integrations - Realm-X assistant & messages - Purchase orders & inventory tracking - Standard support |
Everything in Core, and: - Affordable housing - Student housing - Advanced budgeting & accounting - Advanced data analysis - Custom fields - Realm-X Flows - AppFolio Stack™ premium integrations - AppFolio API (read-only) - Enhanced support - Smart maintenance scheduling & billing |
Everything in Plus, and: - Leasing CRM - Leasing signals - AppFolio API (read/write) - Dedicated customer success management |
Minimum spend and units apply.
Can You Use AppFolio With Less Than 50 Units?
No, AppFolio has a 50-unit minimum.
Is AppFolio hard to use?
No. Based on user feedback, most users find AppFolio very easy to use. That said, AppFolio is quite customizable to fit your needs and offers a lot of different features, so it might feel a little overwhelming to know where to start. But once users get going, they’ve noted that it’s very intuitive to figure out where to go/what to do.
Does AppFolio have an Open API?
With AppFolio’s Max plan, customers can get access to AppFolio’s API. With the API, you get enterprise-level control and read/write access to your AppFolio Property Manager database. Also available for purchase separately.
How is AppFolio’s Customer Support?
AppFolio offers a help center, phone, and chat support to help you with any problem you have. You can also talk with other property managers through the AppFolio Community portal.
Alternatives
Summary
We recommend AppFolio for property management companies with 50+ units that want purpose-built accounting features and built-in AI tools, from AI assistants to AI agents. The Core, Plus, and Max plans have all the features we would expect from property management software and include access to AI features.
With Core, you get all of the basics you need to run your business. It also includes Realm-X Assistant, which can help you pull insights, draft communications, and execute tasks. We recommend the Core plan for property managers seeking a tool that meets their current needs and also grows with them.
The Plus plan gives you access to more advanced tools for accounting and data analysis, premium integrations, and read access to the AppFolio API. It also includes capabilities for managing affordable and student housing, and Realm-X Flows, AppFolio’s workflow automation engine. We recommend the Plus plan for businesses that need more automation and integrations and/or that manage more complex/diverse portfolios.
AppFolio Max is an enterprise solution for large property management companies that provides more customization and data insights than the other plans. With Max, you get read/write access to AppFolio’s API so you can build the custom analytics, integrations, and processes that are critical to your business. You’ll also get a dedicated CSM focused on your business to help you maximize your return on investment.
However, the open API is only on the Max plan, and there are no native integrations with QuickBooks. There’s also a 50-unit minimum, so anyone below that threshold will need to look elsewhere.
But overall, AppFolio provides a unified experience that helps you and your team connect more meaningfully with residents, owners, and investors wherever you are, on any device.
User Reviews of AppFolio Property Manager
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AppFolio Property Manager Review
A company that cares for it customers, and improving there product.
Pros
How it is all ways improving
Cons
getting help anymore seems harder but is all ways there, Just not like it was at the beginning
AppFolio Property Manager Review
Very positive, although we noticed a substantial decline in the customer care service.
Pros
We really like the platform overall and the design
Cons
We noticed a lack of customer support. Some functions are not very intuitive and we often have the feeling that we are not maximizing the use of the software.
AppFolio Property Manager Review
I have recommended you to others, which is the highest compliment
Pros
I like the colors you use. They do not overwhelm my eyes. I like the tax form/spreadsheet that are embedded. I like that you have an App.
Cons
Please modify the Additional Fees section. Add a start /end date to that section. We change fee structure mid-year or at the new year and since you don't have a start or end date, it causes a diagnostic and i have to enter a JE every time. Your customer service reps aren't always consistent. I wish they were all trained equally. Also, please add a feature to speak to a manager or lead on those complicated issues.
AppFolio Property Manager Review
Not great
Pros
The versatility
Cons
Lack of customer service, long wait times
AppFolio Property Manager Review
I understand that I only pay for the Basic, but as a small pm company that is my biggest expense. I know there are cheaper good ones out there, but I am willing to pay the extra hoping that AF will continue to improve even at the basic level. I don’t like that AF tries to push me to use other additional costly items to do things that AppFolio should/could do such as APM or Property Meld. I love recommending AF to NARPM members, Facebook groups, etc. I hope there comes a time when I don’t have to add except their accounting support and not always listening to the small businesses.
Pros
I love that I can open more than 1 screen, don't need a lot of additional software, Text/document, workflows that go smoothly, report building (although could be better), user friendly...most of the time.
Cons
Accounting, especially corporate accounting. Not easy to figure out when something doesn't flow like it should. Support help is better but still not great (hit and miss). Requested better vendor communication thru AF - love the texting wish it were set up for vendors. Wish I could create the exact report I needed sometimes because there are so many to choose from hard to figure out where to start. Sometimes what I need can't be found on a report that has other information I need.
AppFolio Property Manager Review
It has been pretty good so far
Pros
The variety of tasks you can do on it
Cons
It gets slow sometimes, server issues
AppFolio Property Manager Review
Much better than our previous software
Pros
Support is very good, but could be more responsive
Cons
Can't use AI for reporting.
AppFolio Property Manager Review
Overall, it is user friendly. It works great for property management and communicating with the tenants.
Pros
I have been using AppFolio for 3 years, and during that time, I have seen considerable changes that make my job faster and easier. It is almost like you hear me talking when I am working on something and say, "they need to do....."
Cons
Sometimes it would be so much faster and easier to speak to a live person to convey the issue. After the initial call, switching to chat would be fine.
AppFolio Property Manager Review
Pretty good so far. I like how the experience been so far
Pros
How easy to use it is
Cons
Everything's great
AppFolio Property Manager Review
It’s a great product for what we do. User friendly!
Pros
The new utilities move-in feature is great!
Cons
Not being able to text a group of tenants at the same time
AppFolio Property Manager Review
I like the software. I would like to see an option to add a Matterport link for each property for advertising
Pros
Easy to use. Great support!
AppFolio Property Manager Review
I’ve had the best experience thus far with Appfolio, there’s no question I’ve asked that has been left unanswered.
Pros
The fact that it is a one stop shop for our office and we can do everything in one system.
Cons
I wish there were more details with the "whats new" and instead of getting emails when tagged in a note I wish it popped up as a push notification on the actual site.
- Real Estate
- 1-10 employees
- Annual revenue $0-$1M
The interface is so easy to learn and utilize daily
I use Appfolio for my (residential) property managenent company and I absolutely love it! The interface is so easy to learn and utilize daily. The price of $600/month may sound a bit high but when you weigh that cost against the level of automation you receive across daily tasks, it more than pays for itself.
customer service is nonexistent
The software overall is good property management system but the support behind the software is lacking. I feel the customer service is nonexistent. They have no direct support line and no direct email to submit a service request. Their fees are also misleading. I found fees related to applicant screening tools that were not outlined in my contract. Only after going back and forth several times, did they admit to the fees and remove them.
- Real Estate
Severe lack of customer support
Intricate, with a severe lack of customer support to accommodate the day to day complexities of the software.
Pros
I like that they USED to have adequate customer support.
Cons
The product have many moving parts and can be quite complex even with an experienced user. They severely lack much needed customer support.
- Real Estate
- 1-10 employees
- Annual revenue $0-$1M
Stopped using AppFolio after 6 months for a more user-friendly alternative
We bought them but stopped using them about 6 months later. Essentially we were using Appfolio and it got a little complicated when using it. A friend of mine in property management recommended an alternative product and we felt it was more user-friendly than this product.
AppFolio Property Manager Review
Chose Appfolio pretty quick. There systems are much more simple than the other software I looked at. They also are very user friendly and have unlimited customer service. Also, had the best pricing and website hosting and maintenance.
